This is a collection of news about border issues, particularly those seen from Arizona and regarding the right to keep and bear arms. Sources often include Mexican media. It's often interesting to see how different the view is from the south.
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Thursday, February 2, 2012

AZMEX EXTRA 1-2-12

AZMEX EXTRA 1 FEB 2012

Note: could be very interesting to learn the rest of this story. PR from US DOJ in Phx says he "bought" not "brought" the rifle. Will be also very interesting to see how light this sentence will be.

A Mexican man pleaded guilty Tuesday to being an alien unlawfully in possession of a firearm in a federal District Court in Phoenix. Ramon Arturo Amaya-Salazar, 38, brought a .50-caliber Bushmaster rifle into the United States under a non-immigrant visa on June 2.

Amaya-Salazar had been issued a border-crossing card that allowed him to travel within 25 miles of the U.S.-Mexican border but not to possess a firearm while in this country, said Bill Solomon, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Amaya-Salazar could face 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both, Solomon said.Sentencing is set for April 16.

Mexican National Indicted On Unlawful Possession Of .50 Caliber Assault RifleFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJune 22, 2011PHOENIX - A federal grand jury in Phoenix returned a one-count indictment today against Ramon Arturo Amaya-Salazar, 38, a Mexican national, for violation of being an Alien Unlawfully in Possession of a Firearm.

The indictment alleges that on June 2, 2011, Amaya-Salazar, while present in the United States under a nonimmigrant visa, had possession of a .50 caliber Bushmaster rifle. According to court records, Amaya-Salazar was arrested after he allegedly supplied money to straw purchasers to obtain the rifle from a Phoenix-area federally licensed firearms dealer.

A conviction for one count of Alien Unlawfully in Possession carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. In determining an actual sentence, the assigned United States District Court Judge will consult the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide appropriate sentencing ranges. The judge, however, is not bound by those guidelines in determining a sentence.

An indictment is simply the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution is being handled by Robert K. Lu, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona.